Swingletree and neck-yoke.



W. R. YEAGLE. SWINGLETREE AND NBGK YoKB. APPLICATION FILED MAB. 16,11511.

Pgtented'June 6 ATToRNEs THS uoRms PETERS ca., WASHINGTON, n, u.

WALTER R. YEAGLE, OF EDDYINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SWINGLETREE AND kNECK-YOKE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led March 16, 1911.

Patented June 6, 1911.

Serial No. 614,776.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER R. YEAGLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Eddington, in the county of Bucks, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Swingletree and NeckYoke, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention consists of a novel construction of an adjusting devicewhich is especially adapted for application to either a double tree,swingle tree, or neck yoke, provision being made whereby a double tree,swingle tree, or both can be quickly lengthened or shortened byunskilled labor according to requirements, whereby the distance apart ofthe draft animals which are employed to pull plows, cultivators, or thelike with respect to each other, or with respect to the center of thedouble tree or the swingle tree can be quickly regulated or adjustedaccording to requirements, so as to enable various agriculturalimplements, such as plows, cultivators, or the like to be readily usedto the best advantage, between rowsof bushes, hedges, and the like, ofvarying widths apart, my novel device being also especially adapted forinstant and ready adjust-ment, for

enabling the user to plow or cultivate close to fences or boundarylines, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

To the above ends, my invention consists of novel adjusting means whichare adapted to be applied to a double tree, or swingle tree, the sameconsisting of a series of collars which are coupled and reinforced attheir opposite side portions, by means of preferably-parallel bars orstrips secured thereto, said collars also having secured thereto anextension or adjusting bar or member which is adapted to be attachedto-either a swingle tree hook, or said device when applied to the swingletrees is adapted to be secured to the traces of the draft animal, whichmay be employed.

My invention further consists of a novel construction of a lockingdevice, which is applied to the adjusting device, said locking deviceconsisting of a frame, theV ends of which are preferably secured betweena pair of collars, means being provided for enabling the catch of mynovel locking device to be quickly applied to or disengaged from acooperating seat in the double t-ree` or swingle tree.

My invention further consists of other novel features of construction,all as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in theclaims.

For the purpose of explaining my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give lsatisfactory andl reliable results, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of bodying myinvention.v Fig. 2 represents on anenlarged scale, a perspective view of one end of thedouble tree orswingle tree seen `in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a perspective viewsimilar to Fig. 2 showing the slide bar to which a trace is adapted tobe att-ached in a different position. Fig. 4 represents a section online www Fig. 3, showing the manner of locking the slide in itsdifferent positions. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of the lockingdevice employed in detached position. Fig. 6 represents a section online y-y Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents afperspective view of a neck yokehaving my invention applied thereto. Similar numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts in the figures. Referring te the drawings:-1 designates a double tree, comprising the body portion 2, having thehook or its equivalent 3 attached thereto, which latter may be of theusual construction. Upon each extremity of the body 2, I mount thecollars or straps 4, 5, 6 and 7, said collarsy preferably encirclingsaid body 2 and being preferably provided with side offsets 8, whichcontain the substantially parallel side strips or braces 9, which lattercouple said collars by the rivets, screws, or other fastenings 10. Thecollars 6 and 7 are constructed substantially alike and are pinned tothe slide bars l1 by the rivets 12. The collars 4 and 5 are similar tothecollars 6 and 7 ,but have their central portions 13 raised somewhatto receive the ends of the frame 15, the latter consisting of a bodyportion 16 in which one end of the flat spring` 17 is secured by meansof the rivet 18, the end or nose 19 of said pin being deflecteddownwardly serving as a catchand adapted to pass freely through a recess43 in the bar 11, as will be understood from Fig. 4, and enter one ofthe recesses 20, as likewise understood from Fig. 4, said end serving asa spring catch and being raised or manipulated by the ring 21 or itsequivalent. The pin or other fastening 22 in conjunction with the pin 13serves to hold the frame 15 in position, as will be understood from Fig.4, so that the collars 4, 5, 6 and 7, the side strips 9, the slide bar11 and the frame 15 carrying the locking device, can all be shifted inunison, along the body 2 of the double tree and locked in the desiredposition by the catch 19, so that the position of the eye 23, withrespect to the central hook 3 can be adjusted at will according torequirements.

The foregoing description applies to the mechanism at the left of thedouble tree, seen in Fig. 1, and as the mechanism 24 seen at the rightof Fig. 1 is substantially identical, a description of one will sufficefor both, it being apparent that the eye 26 of the slide bar 25 iscapable of adjustment in the same manner and to the same extent as theeye 23.

27 and 28 designate swingle trees which are supported in the eyes 26 and23 by the hooks 29 and 30 respectively. Each swingle tree is provided atits extremity with a slide bar 31, having an eye 32 therein with whichthe traces engage in the usual manner, each of said slide bars beingconstructed and supported, adjusted and locked in the same manner, asalready described with reference to the left hand portion of Fig. 1, andto Figs. 2, 3, and 4, so that a repetition of the detailed constructionis deemed to be unnecessary. It will however be clearly apparent thatthe raising of the spring 17 in any of the locations seen in Fig. 1,will enable the coacting slide bar on the double tree or swingle treesto be shifted to the right or left, or toward or away from each other asoccasion may require, which makes my invention especially applicable touse with various farming implements, such as plows, cultivators, and thelike in cases where rows of plants, bushes, hedges and the like vary inwidth apart. I am also enabled to work closer to fences and boundaries,by proper adjustment of the slide bars, as will be apparent, and sincethe slide bars one in each instance are secured to the collars and thelatter braced by the side strips 9, and the locking device firmly heldin the collars 4 and 5, it will be seen that a very strong, light andefficient device is produced, which can be instantly adjusted and cannotreadily get out of order.

In Fig. 7, I have shown my invention as adapted to a neck yoke, wherein34 designates the body portion having an eye or swivel 35, to beattached to the pole or tongue of the plow, cultivator, or the like.

36 and 37 designate collars which hold the locking device 38 inposition, the same being constructed, as shown in Figs. 2 to G, alreadydescribed. 39 and 40 designate the two outer collars, all of saidcollars being secured to the side strips 41, the collar 39 having theeye 42 for the breast chains to engage with in the usual manner. Uponthe raising of the spring 38, the parts 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41 and42, can be adjusted to the right or left as may be desired.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and usefulconstruction of a swingle tree and neck yoke which embodies the featuresof advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the inventionand the above description, and while I have, in the present instance,shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which has been foundin practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to beunderstood that the same is susceptible of modification in variousparticulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionor sacrificing any of its advantages.

The double tree may be lengthened and an additional swingle tree withthe necessary appurtenances applied for a three-horse gear when sodesired.

Having thus described my invention,what I desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. In afdevice of the character stated, a body'portion, an adjustabledevice therefor including slidable collars, substantially parallelstrips secured to said collars, and a locking device comprising a framehaving its ends secured in said collars, and a spring catch having oneend secured in said frame and its other end deflected inwardly andadapted to engage a seat in said body portion.

2. In a device of the character stated, a body portion, a plurality ofsliding collars thereon, substantially parallel strips to which saidcollars are secured, and a locking device comprising a frame having itsends secured to a pair of said collars, and a suitable catch having oneend secured to one of said collars and its other end deflected in wardlyand engaging a coacting seat in said body portion.

3. In a device of the character stated, a body portion having thereon aplurality of sliding collars, side strips secured oppositely to eachother in said collars and adapted to engage the edges of said bodyportion, a bar also secured to said collars, and a locking devicesupported on said bar and having a catch adapted to engage a seat insaid body portion.

4. In a device of the character stated, a body portion, a plurality ofcollars slidingly mounted thereon, side strips located oppositely toeach other and secured to said collars, a slide bar also secured to saidcollars,

a locking device consisting o'fa frame also secured to said collars, anda catch having one end secured in said frame, and its other enddeflected inwardly and adapted to engage a seat in said body portion,said collars, strips and locking device being telescopically adjustableon said body portion.

5. In a device of the character stated, a tree comprising a body portionhaving on each end thereof, an adjustable device, consisting of aplurality of collars, reinforcing devices for said collars, a barattached-to said collars and having an eye in the end thereof, a framesecured upon said bar and collars, and a suitable catch mounted in saidframe and adapted to engage a seat in said body portion.

6. An adjustable tree composed of a body portion, an extension memberthereon, a plurality of collars the latter being firmly connected withsaid member and freely engaging said body portion, and means forretaining said extension member in set position, said means including aresilient member and a ring connected therewith.

7 In a device of the character stated, a body portion, an extensionmember thereon, a plurality of collars, the latter being firmlyconnected with said member, and freely embracing said body portion,pieces'adapted to couple said collars, and slidable therewith onopposite sides of said body portion.

8. An adjustable tree composed of a body portion, an extension member,collars consaid collars, said means being interposed between saidcollars and body portion, they being firmly connected with the collarsand slidable on the body portion, and means carried by two adjacentcollars for securing the body portion and extension member in adjustedposition. j

9. An adjustable tree composed of a body portion, a bar slidabletherein, collars connected with said bar and freely engaging said bodyportion, and a fastening on said bar adapted to engage said bodyportion, said fastening being composed of a catch and a frame therefor,the latter being secured in position by the adjacent collars connectedwith said bar. A

10. An adjustable tree composed of a body portion, an extension barthereon, collars connected with said bar and freely engaging said bodyportion, members adapted to couple and reinforce said collars, the samebeing freely movable on said body portion, a frame secured to aplurality of said collars, and

"yielding means carried by said frame and adapted to interlock with saidbody portion to maint-ain the parts in their adjusted position.

, WALTER R. YEAGLE.

Witnesses:

ALAN CoNELY-MILDMAN, WALTER C. VANDEGRIFT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

i Washington, D. Gff

